Review: End of the Rainbow at Soho Theatre Walthamstow
⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐
Sometimes you are watching a show, and you think, “Wow, this is a masterpiece.” Well, I had that feeling while watching End of the Rainbow. It’s an emotional story following the final months of Judy Garland's life, played by the iconic Jinkx Monsoon (Oh, Mary!, Chicago on Broadway). Watching it at Soho Theatre Walthamstow, a gorgeous, restored 1930s art deco cinema, felt absolutely perfect. The venue's historic atmosphere instantly transports you straight into London, 1968, the exact year the show is set.
The show begins remarkably: instead of starting on stage, Judy is already standing in the audience, making her way through the crowd to the stage. It immediately breaks the wall between her and us. From that first moment, her costumes are pure chic, glitter, and glamour.
The entire play is set in Judy’s hotel suite. A striking set of stairs, draped in beautiful white fabric, frames a large piano right in the middle. Because of this wide, open design, it feels like Judy is trapped under a spotlight even in her private hours—she is never truly "offstage." The switches between the intimate scenes in Judy’s room and her electric performances in the nightclub are beautifully done. The orchestra is positioned right behind her; when she performs, the curtains open to reveal them, creating those authentic club vibes that make you feel like you’re sitting in the audience watching the real Judy Garland. A massive yellow stage light glows from behind the musicians, and the white stairs shift dynamically in color, bathing the entire room in a warm, raw nightclub atmosphere.
Jinkx is a Broadway legend, and her portrayal of Judy is absolutely outstanding! From her specific physical movements—like the characteristic way she stands while holding her elbow—to the way she speaks and her incredibly strong voice, it is clearly an exhausting role. Yet, the energy she brings to the stage at the end is just as high as it was at the very beginning.
In act two we see the low points of her life, including the heavy drinking and pill addiction. She’s always drinking, using alcohol as a desperate shield to stave off her exhaustion. The production uses a brilliant piece of symbolism here, as the stage is suddenly bathed in a vibrant green light whenever Judy spirals into a drug and alcohol-induced haze. It’s a tragic, heartbreaking nod to the Emerald City from The Wizard of Oz, showing that her past always follows her. We see a devastating, deeply emotional scene with her fiancé, Mickey (Jacob Dudman), where she says, “I can’t do this anymore,” and turns back to her vices.
The chemistry between all of the characters is so raw and pure that you truly feel every emotion, which is beautifully highlighted by the costumes. Mickey is dressed in dark colors, acting like a driving, demanding force pushing her back to showbiz, while her loyal pianist Anthony (Adam Filipe) is dressed in light hues, offering a gentle, earnest reminder of her safer past. Together with Anthony, she is still able to perform that night, even with the inevitable, painful aftermath the day after.
Because Jinkx is such a beloved figure in the queer community, her playing a legendary gay icon like Judy Garland creates an electric bond in the theatre. During the musical numbers, she actually comes down into the crowd and interacts with us, blurring the lines between fiction and reality so you feel less like a theatre audience and more like Judy's real, adoring fans.
Even though it’s technically a play, the mix of outstanding acting and live musical numbers makes it feel like so much more. There are no massive, distracting set changes. Instead, they transform the space from a private room into a roaring nightclub simply using clever lighting, giving the stage a whole new dimension. The show features a cast of just four actors—a simplicity that elevates the entire production to an exceptionally high standard.
The show includes many of Judy's original songs, such as "The Man That Got Away," "Somewhere Over the Rainbow," "Get Happy / When You're Smiling," and "The Trolley Song." Whenever she was rehearsing in her room or performing on stage, I was directly transported back in time.
End of the rainbow is playing until 21 June at Soho Theatre Walthamstow
All photos are taken by Danny Kaan
